This is my opinion only dealing with the sales people only.
Installation process has not started yet!

I put out a bid for 15 double hung triple pane windows.
I was primarily looking for Soft-Lite Elements but listened
to all companies with their comparable window.

Company #1

Windows Plus
Soft Lite Elements triple pane.
$8149 cash price nicluding all fees and taxes on initial bid.
Then lowered that price by 4.75% at time of signing contract.
Very easy transaction..No pressure..No sign now or you loose discount.
Small company..Outstanding reviews and word of mouth recommendations
especially when talking about the installation process.
See Angies list for reviews..

Company #2
Champion window
Did not offer a triple pane
product offered was the Comfort 365 double pane
Then the sale shuffle started..
Very curteous salesperson..really nice guy..
but...
The sales pitch was typical champion as I have read on this forum.
Retail price $17000
then a 25% discount for large purchase discount
then a 10% discount if I buy now.
When I balked at those offers..
We went to an employee discount.
(going into the slow season company offering us a discount
but I might have to wait more than 8 weeks to get product,
will have to bundle my purchase with other employee purchases)
price then came down to the mid $9000 thousands.

When I showed the champion salesman the other bid,
He replied that he never bad mouths other companies
but the Element was a contractors grade window and
the Comfort 365 was a much better product.

So, that so far has been experiece so far with in my home bids by 2 companies.

I also got a bid from Zen windows by email and a follow up by phone by the owner.
The conversation was a very honest presentation, admitting that the zen windows were
a private brand from soft lite...He suggested the Lotus window as a compatible window
to the Element. price was about $7500 for 15 windows.
Very straight foward by Zen with no games or miss representations of their product.
Not being able to really figure out exactly what Zen/Soft Lite window I would end up with, I defaulted to the known Elements by Soft Lite.

Gilkey is next to bid, so we will see what they offer.

Again these are my dealings with 3 different companies so far, and your dealings might be very different depending on the company sales person.
I have tried to represent the actual conversations with everyone and do not think i have misquoted anything.

Window wise I guess I am partial to the Soft Lite Elements as when I read the numerous
forum posts here, when windows are compared to each other, the Elements always seem to be one of two that are highly recommended.

I want to thank all of you that posted your input to help me with my buying decision.
I realize that I have gotten a very good price on the Soft lite elements, and I have gone ahead and signed a contract to buy them.
I will update this web site when they are installed.
Thanks again gentlemen for your help.